Stellantis to take on BYD with new affordable EV launching in the UK, starting at $28,000

A new EV is set for the UK to rival BYD and other low-cost Chinese automakers entering the market. Starting at $28,000 (£21,990), the new Citroen e-C3 will be one of the most affordable EVs in the UK.

Meet the new Citroen e-C3

Jeep and Ram’s parent company, Stellantis, unveiled the new Citroen e-C3 last October. The company claimed it was “The first European affordable electric car.”

Since launching in 2002, the C3 has quickly become one of the brand’s top-selling models, with over 5.6 million units sold. The all-electric e-C3 model was launched in Europe last month, starting at around $24,500 (23,300 euros).

The brand announced UK pricing for the new low-cost e-C3 EV Thursday, starting at roughly $28,000 (£21,990 OTR MRRP).

Citroen’s new e-C3 is the first to ride on Stellantis’ new EV-focused “Smart Car” platform. Powered by a 44 kWh LFP battery pack, the new low-cost EV gets up to 199 miles WLTP range.

With 100 kW DC fast charging, the e-C3 can charge from 20% to 80% in as little as 26 minutes. A new e-ROUTES app lets owners plan trips or view charge status and battery levels in real-time.

Using the MyCitroen app, e-C3 owners can manage charge schedules, check their vehicle’s status and location, and precondition the cabin (Max version).

A new low-cost EV set to rival BYD in the UK

The new low-cost EV will be available in two trims: Plus and Max. The Plus model includes a 10″ touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

Meanwhile, the Max version, starting at $30,200 (£23,690), gains a rear parking camera, automatic air conditioning, LED rear lights, tinted windows, a heated steering wheel, and heated front seats.

Orders for the new Citroen e-C3 will open in the UK in July. For more info, you can sign up for updates on the company’s website here.

The new electric car will be one of the most affordable in the UK. It will rival low-cost EVs from BYD and other Chinese automakers.

BYD is expanding overseas after topping China’s booming EV market. The automaker launched a series of lower-priced “Honor” edition versions of its top-selling models.

Its cheapest, the Seagull EV, starts at just $9,700 (69,800 yuan) in China. According to Autocar, BYD’s UK manager is looking to launch the low-cost Seagull in the region. With clear space below the Dolphin, which starts at around $32,000 (£25,000) in the UK, BYD aims to “make electric cars accessible to all.”

For those of you in the US, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said Jeep will launch a low-cost EV, starting at around $25,000 “very soon.” You can read more about Jeep’s affordable US-bound EV here.